Hyundai unveils its biggest electric car yet in Brussels, but is size enough?
Hyundai will use the Brussels Motor Show to present the next and physically largest step in its electric strategy. The spotlight falls on the brand’s biggest electric vehicle to date, while a refreshed IONIQ 6 aims to win over European buyers with carefully refined aerodynamics.
From 9 to 18 January, the Brussels Motor Show will host the debut of Hyundai’s largest electric model so far. The name remains under wraps, but enough details are already public to place it within the brand’s electric hierarchy. It will sit alongside the INSTER and the IONIQ 9, and most likely above the latter.
The technical focus follows expectations rather than surprises. Hyundai highlights an 800 volt electrical architecture, fast charging that now counts as basic hygiene rather than a selling point, and a platform designed to carry both significant mass and the brand’s European ambitions.
At the press conference, Hyundai Europe product chief Raf Van Nuffel described the new model as more than just another large electric car. He positioned it as a signpost for the 2026 model range. It is a neat idea, although European customers increasingly look for a sober balance of price, range and charging speed rather than long term vision statements.
The updated Hyundai IONIQ 6 also makes its first public appearance in Brussels. Hyundai points to improved aerodynamics, refreshed interior technology and expanded digital features.
In plain terms, the existing concept received a careful polish. The IONIQ 6 remains one of the most streamlined electric saloons on the market, but competition has intensified. Low drag figures alone no longer make hearts race.
Hyundai’s stand includes an N Zone showcasing the Hyundai IONIQ 5 N and Hyundai IONIQ 6 N, still among the few electric cars that try to deliver a genuine driving experience rather than merely simulate one.
Also on display is INSTEROID, a design concept based on the Hyundai INSTER EV and inspired by video game aesthetics. It is visually engaging, although its connection to everyday car buyers remains more conceptual than practical.
Hyundai’s electric line up continues to grow, expand and quite literally get bigger. The new electric flagship in Brussels underlines the company’s ability to keep pace technologically and, at times, even set it.
Yet the European electric car market heading into 2026 feels mature, cautious and increasingly sceptical. Size, 800 volt systems and world premieres no longer sell cars on their own. Hyundai’s real test will not be what appears on stage in Brussels, but how much it costs in the real world and how far it actually travels on a single charge.
